Designed for a variety of spending habits, American Express credit cards offer the prestige, perks and points you’d expect.
Depending on the Amex card you choose, you could also receive welcome bonus points, Membership Rewards, Air Miles or Aeroplan points. American Express cards also come with a variety of complimentary extras, from purchase and travel insurance to concierge services, airport lounge passes and travel vouchers.
Our guide covers the different types of American Express cards offered, including features and benefits of the different cards. Learn about the eligibility requirements, as well as how to apply for an American Express credit card.
American Express Credit Card Comparison
Types of American Express credit cards
American Express credit cards are designed for both personal and small business use. Aside from offering regular credit cards, Amex also offers a small selection of charge cards. Charge cards have similar features and benefits to regular credit cards but require you to pay the account balance in full by the statement due date (instead of letting you carry a balance and charging interest on the unpaid balance). Here’s a summary of each of the main types of American Express credit cards you can choose from:
Lifestyle credit cards
Referred to as “lifestyle credit cards”, these cards come with a variety of different costs and benefits. Ranging from low monthly fees to high annual fees, American Express offer a selection of cards that provide varying perks based on your lifestyle and spending habits. Choose from platinum, gold and cobalt cards that provide membership rewards points, welcome bonus points, a host of travel insurances and shopping and dining benefits. In addition, these cards come with buyer protection and points per dollar spent. Depending on the card you choose, you can redeem your points toward flights, concerts, merchandise and more.
Cash back credit cards
There are a couple of cash back credit cards on offer from American Express. These credit cards offer varying cash back rates and have no limits or restrictions on the amount of cash back you can earn. In addition, these cards offer bonus cash back welcome rates, buyer protection and varying travel, dining and entertainment benefits.
Travel rewards credit cards
American Express offer a wide range of credit cards that are tailored toward frequent travellers or those looking to benefit from travel rewards points. Choose from a variety of Air Miles, Aeroplan and Marriott Bonvoy™ cards that allow you to transfer your points toward participating airline and hotel programs. Partners include Delta, Etihad and British Airways, among others. These cards range from zero or low annual fees to higher annual fees for cards with more perks and benefits. Depending on the card you choose, these cards typically come with complimentary travel insurances, airport lounge access, concierge services and bonus travel rewards points.
Charge credit cards
There is a small range of charge credit cards on offer from American Express. These cards usually come with annual fees, however they also typically come with competitive welcome bonus point offers, a host of complimentary travel insurances, rewards points per dollar spent and buyer protection. Depending on the card you choose, you may also have complimentary airport lounge access.
Business credit cards
American Express offer a range of credit cards designed specifically for businesses. These cards come with a variety of useful features and benefits, including additional cardholders to manage employee spending and tools to track your business expenditure. There are also Amex business credit cards that earn Membership Rewards, Air Miles Rewards or Marriott Bonvoy™ Points on business spending, as well as offering free welcome bonus points.
The benefits of banking with American Express
Here are some of the features you could enjoy if you get an American Express credit card.
American Express Rewards
American Express Membership Rewards points can be used for a variety of different purchases and experiences including travel, entertainment and dining, shopping and merchandise. You can also use Member Rewards to pay for concert tickets on TicketMaster. In addition, some points programs allow you to transfer points to participating airline and hotel programs including Etihad, Delta, British Airways and airlines that accept Aeroplan miles and Asia Miles.
American Express Internet and mobile banking
American Express has a range of cards that are compatible with mobile payment systems including Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay, which means you can use your mobile device to make payments at the checkout. In addition, you can access your account online or via the Amex mobile app. This means you can manage your account, pay bills and request a credit limit increase or apply for another MEXproduct at any time online or via the mobile app.
American Express complimentary extras
Amex cards come with buyer, purchase and fraud protection alongside a host of other complimentary extras. Depending on the card you choose, you may be offered travel insurance, shopping and dining perks, concierge services, airport lounge access, luxury travel benefits, car rental insurance and more.
American Express credit cards security
American Express protect clients from any fraudulent activities with their state-of-the-art fraud monitoring system. You will be contacted if there is an suspicious or unusual activity on your credit card account. Alternatively, if you detect fraudulent activity on your credit card, contact American Express immediately. They offer 24/7 access to customer service.
How to apply for an American Express credit card
If you’ve compared a variety of credit card providers and decided to apply for an American Express credit card, you can do so online in around 10 minutes. Before you apply, make sure you meet the eligibility requirements and have all the relevant documents on hand.
Eligibility criteria
- How old are you? Applicants must be at least 18 years old, or the age of majority in your province or territory.
- What is your Canadian residency status? You’ll need to be a Canadian resident with a Canadian credit file.
Information you will need for your application
If you meet the eligibility requirements, you can proceed with your application by collecting the following information:
- Personal information. You’ll need to provide personal details including your full name, email address, phone number, residential address and a valid form of ID, such as your driver’s licence or passport number.
- Financial and employment information. This includes your current job, your employer’s contact information or your accountant’s details if you’re self-employed. You’ll also need to provide details of your annual income. You may need to provide information about your ongoing expenses, such as rent or mortgage payments, your weekly budget, loan repayments and any existing credit card debts.
Frequently asked questions
Do you have a question about American Express credit cards? Check the FAQs below for answers to common questions.